Thousands rally at Lalbagh against parks amendment Bill, tunnel project
Large protest at Lalbagh against Karnataka Parks (Preservation) Amendment Bill 2026 and tunnel road project; activists vow to continue movement.
Bengaluru witnessed a massive protest on Sunday morning as thousands of citizens, children, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), city BJP MPs and Kannada activists gathered at Lalbagh to oppose recent amendments to two state laws and the proposed tunnel road project. The demonstration, led by 91-year-old environmental activist A.N. Yellappa Reddy, was organised under the banner of 'Save Lalbagh'.
The protesters are against The Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which empowers the government to alienate 5% of park land for the tunnel road project that is slated to pass beneath Lalbagh. The crowd, which included city BJP MPs L.S. Tejasvi Surya, C.N. Manjunath, Shobha Karandlaje, and P.C. Mohan, took a walk inside the park and hugged the Peninsular Gneiss rock, estimated to be 3.4 billion years old. Slogans such as "Hasire Usiru, Ulisi Ulisi Lalbagh Ulisi" and "Nammadu Nammadu Lalbagh Nammadu" echoed through the venue.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Reddy demanded that the state government immediately scrap the amendment to the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975. He questioned Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on the rationale behind the tunnel road project, noting that due process was not being followed in its planning and approval.
College student Adarsh M. voiced the concerns of the younger generation, stating that the government's move to take away 5% of park space could set a dangerous precedent. "Instead of preserving the existing and limited green space, they have come forward to destroy it. They should scrap the Bill immediately," he said, urging better metro connectivity, more public buses, and improved roads instead.
Meanwhile, Mr. Surya announced that the movement to save the city's parks would continue until the government withdraws the amendment Bill. "We will take this movement to every park in the city. I will announce the place of protest for next Sunday soon," he said, adding that sustained pressure is necessary to force a change in the government's decision.
Dr. Manjunath urged the Governor not to give his assent to the Bill, while Ms. Karandlaje said she had already personally appealed to the Governor on the matter.